Others just taking note, Devon's The Venus Company has been plastic free for years

Michael Smith is a man on a mission. He aims to operate the greenest beach café and shop operator, not an easy feat by any stretch. Since they launched their first outlet at Blackpool Sands in 1995, Michael and Louisa Smith, together with Lee Porter, decided that they wanted to have minimal impact on the environment, while working to enhance the beautiful spaces they occupy.

Here’s what makes The Venus Company unique:

THE LAST STRAW

They have never used polystyrene cups, instead opting for the most environmental cup available - now 100% fully compostable cup & lid. All cleaning materials are chlorine and phosphate-free based products. Despite popular demand, they banned plastic straws 15 years ago in a bid to reduce the amount of plastics being created. Take away packaging has been designed to be plastic free and compostable and for every plastic bottle bought in the cafés, a deposit of 50p is taken, to be paid back when the bottle is returned. They continuously campaign to educate the public about the effect of plastics on the ocean.

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

Taking care of the environment is an integral part of Venus’ business philosophy. They return cooking oil, all cardboard, food waste and glass for recycling and use energy efficient equipment and monitor co2 emissions. Their strong environmental awareness is why they were not only the first café company to be awarded The Queen’s Award for Sustainability 2005, but received it a second-time round in 2010.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD

Venus source their produce from many local suppliers, as reduced food miles means a quicker journey from field to plate. They operate a central hub saving 250,000 miles per annum. This not only reduces environmental impact, but also supports the local economy. All meat is free range & from grass-fed animals. They pay their farmers a fair price for a quality product.

CHARITY STARTS AT HOME

The Venus Company contributes to many charities, including a recent donation of £2,400 to the Samaritans. They work closely with the AONB and the Marine Conservation Society including sponsoring the local screening of a documentary about the effect of plastics on the ocean - ‘A Plastic Ocean’.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

To encourage regular beach cleans, The Venus Company supports Less Plastic and the Marine Conservation Society by providing free hot drinks to all volunteers. At Venus’ ‘Loving the Beach’ music festival all stalls had an educational ethos, promoting environment friendly activities for the whole family.